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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina August 2023City Names New Chief Building Official Building Code Compliance, Contractor Relationships Are Borwege’s Top Priorities BY LAUREN SIEBENALER Nate Borwege spent the last year in the footsteps of now-retired Chief Building Official David Fisher, soaking up every bit of knowledge he could. He took on extra tasks to prepare for the next step in his career. In early June, Borwege was named the next Chief Building Official. “Nate served as the Field Supervisor and more recently Interim Building Official, which helped prepare him to lead the team in the Building Division,” said Fire Chief Andrew Slama, whose department includes the Building Inspections Division. “He brings a calm demeanor and good communication skills to aid in tackling difficult or intricate building projects in the city.” Borwege started with the City as a Building Inspector in 2017. In early 2022, he was promoted to Field Supervisor. Before working for the City of Edina, Borwege earned an associate degree in Architectural CAD Technology from Northwest Technical Institute in Eden Prairie. From 1998 to 2017, he worked for two private companies designing homes and managing clients through the construction process. Building Inspections staff are thrilled to have Borwege as their new leader. Borwege’s management style was noted by staff as well. They described him as a hard worker, thoughtful and someone who teaches instead of lectures. “Nate has proven himself over the last few years,” said Building Inspector Mike Rice. “He will be a great Chief Building Official who will take his responsibility seriously, work well with others and be just an overall good fit for the department as well as the City.” Borwege said among his priorities are building safety and code compliance, building relationships with contractors and representing the City in a positive way. He looks forward to this leadership role and being a great ambassador. In his day-to-day work, the Chief Building Official provides leadership to 15 staff members to ensure building codes are enforced. From Jan. 1 to July 5, the Building Inspections Division issued 930 building permits with a valuation of $138,785,029. The Division had an all-time high valuation of construction projects in 2022 at $447,040,989. Nate Borwege is the City’s new Chief Building Official. (Photo by Glenn Gray) The majority of the projects from 2022 are still under construction, and the required inspections from those projects have carried into this year. Those projects include The Fred, a new 408- unit apartment building; Rise Modular, a new 202-unit apartment building; Maison Green, a new 196-unit apartment building; and Cornelia, a new 119-unit apartment building. For more information on the City’s Building Inspections Division, visit EdinaMN.gov/BuildingInspections. City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina AUGUST 2023 Volume 10, Issue 8Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City - COMPILED BY PETER NOMELAND This past June was the second driest June in Minnesota on record, meaning that it is more important than ever to be mindful of your water use. The City of Edina’s Public Works Department has many tips and recommendations to best conserve your water, from proper sprinkling to identifying any leaks your appliances may have. See the current issue of Public Works Pipeline (EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorksPipeline) for more information. BY THE NUMBERS Water Conservation in Edina Inch it rained in June in Edina, far below the historical average of 4.28 inches 0.93 Gallons of water a humidifier may use an hour if not running properly 12 BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND Do back to school swapping instead of shopping at the City’s inaugural kids clothing swap Aug. 19. “Textiles are hard to recycle,” said Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock. “This is a way for Edina community members to share with each other, participate in the City’s Climate Action Plan and help make sure Edina kids are ready for the school year.” Clean and reusable clothing and shoes suitable for children in kindergarten through 12th grade are sought for the Back to School Clothing Swap. Undergarments, socks or swimsuits can’t be accepted. Please no toys or sports gear. There are two ways to participate in this reuse event. People can bring one box or bag of donations to the Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, in advance of the swap. Or participants can bring items the day of the swap, which will happen 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at the Edina Senior Center. The event is free. Swappers do not need to be Edina residents or donate items in order to swap. Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own reusable bag for shopping as this is a zero-waste event. Parking is limited at the Senior Center, so it’s recommended people carpool, take public transit, walk or bike. Nearby public parking is available in the Grandview Parking Ramp by Jerry’s Foods. Vehicles illegally parked in the spaces designated for nearby businesses and apartments may be towed. Volunteers are needed for sorting on Aug. 18 and for various tasks on swap day Aug. 19. Sign up at bit.ly/2023KidsSwap Any items not picked up during the swap will be donated to the Epilepsy Foundation. A baby gear swap, sponsored by the City of Bloomington, will be 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Aug. 20, at Moir Park, 10320 Morgan Ave. S. See more details and a list of acceptable items at blm.mn/swaps. And hang onto those cleats because Edina Give and Go hosts a kids’ gear swap in September. Details will be announced on edinagiveandgo.org. For more information on the Edina Back to School Clothing Swap, contact Organics Recycling Coordinator Twila Singh at tsingh@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-1657. Back to School Clothing Swap Set for Aug. 19 Exchange Clothes for Kids in Kindergarten Through High School Gallons U.S. household leaks can waste a year trillion1 1 Inch of water needed per week for a healthy and sustainable lawn 2 BY BRITTANY BADER Exciting progress was recently made within Edina’s Climate Action Plan. Through a subscription to Xcel Energy’s Windsource program, the City has met its goal of sourcing 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations by 2030, seven years ahead of schedule. Now, the City hopes to build on this momentum through a “community match” program and is asking residents and businesses to match the City’s investment in renewable energy by signing up for a Windsource subscription of their own. The target is to have 1,200 households subscribed by the end of 2023. “Beyond the municipal goal the City recently accomplished with its subscription, the Climate Action Plan has a community-wide goal to source up to 20% of Edina’s electricity needs from onsite renewable energy systems, including rooftop solar or subscriptions like Windsource. Getting 1,200 homes to subscribe would get us about halfway to that goal,” said Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock. What is Windsource and what are its benefits? Windsource, soon to be called Renewable*Connect Flex, is a voluntary program offered through Xcel Energy that allows Minnesota customers to purchase and claim Renewable Energy Credits on the electrical grid. “When customers subscribe to Windsource, they purchase enough Renewable Energy Credits to claim that their electricity comes 100% from renewable sources. Subscribing to Windsource increases the amount of renewable energy that Xcel must build or buy on behalf of its customers, above and beyond what it currently provides,” Hancock explained. In Edina, the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions are buildings and energy. If you’ve wanted to get involved with Edina’s sustainability goals, but haven’t known where to start, Windsource is an easy, low-cost option to consider. Energy purchased through Renewable*Connect Flex comes from renewable sources: the wind and the sun, so it does not emit harmful pollution. How much does it cost? For an additional cost of about $6 per month on top of your normal electric bill, you can commit to renewable energy and lower your carbon footprint in the sector with the most significant reduction needed. How do I register and are there any incentives? Those interested in Windsource/ Renewable*Connect Flex can learn more and sign up through Xcel Energy’s website by visiting Bit.ly/RenewableEnergyEdina. As an incentive, Edina residential customers who subscribe to the program will receive a voucher for a free Home Energy Squad visit (a value of $100) to identify energy-saving opportunities in their homes. Xcel and the City are working together to ensure that residents receive the voucher soon after their subscription. If I subscribe, will I notice any changes to my electricity? Customers will not notice a change in how their electricity is supplied, and no equipment is required. “A subscription to the Windsource program adds more renewable electricity to the grid overall; however, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your home’s electricity is from wind energy at all hours,” Hancock said. How is the City using Windsource to meet its municipal energy goals? Xcel Energy already sources about one- third of its grid from renewable sources. To reach 100% renewable, the City is purchasing two-thirds of its municipal electricity through a Windsource subscription. Right now, this subscription equals about 12 million kilowatt hours across facilities, but is expected to decrease in the future as the City adds more solar arrays to its buildings and increases energy efficiency. To learn more about the community match program, visit EdinaMN.gov/EnergyResources, or contact Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock at GHancock@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-1621. Help Edina Achieve One of Its Climate Action Plan Goals By Subscribing to Xcel Energy’s Windsource Program For Only a Few Extra Dollars per Month, Households Can Commit to Renewable Energy 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Council Approves Sales Tax Referendum Arena Expansion Would Be Funded by Same Sales Tax Approved in 2022 BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE This fall, Edina voters will decide whether to use collections from the City’s half-percent sales tax to invest $25.3 million to expand Braemar Arena and complete other major improvements there. If the referendum is approved, the South Rink at Braemar Arena would be demolished to allow the building of two new ice rinks, resulting in a total of four indoor rinks and one outdoor seasonal rink at the arena. Other major upgrades include the construction of a safer drop-off and pick-up area, a new and larger lobby and additional parking. “These investments will provide better accessibility, more ice time for hockey and skating enthusiasts, and a better overall experience that residents told us they want,” said Parks & Recreation Director Perry Vetter. The Braemar Arena expansion is the second part of a comprehensive $64.6 million plan to invest in Braemar Park and Arena and Fred Richards Park. In November 2022, Edina voters approved Phase One of the plan – a local half-percent sales tax to finance $39.3 million in improvement projects at Fred Richards and Braemar parks. The investments include new trails, additional courts for pickleball and basketball, new playgrounds, nature preservation and critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades at Braemar Arena. City leaders said if voters approved Phase One, they would move to complete the investment plan by pursuing the expansion of Braemar Arena. This past spring, the City received legislative approval to allow Edina residents to decide whether to use the same half-percent sales tax to fund the Braemar Arena expansion plan. “Last year, Edina residents made it clear that investments in parks and recreation are important to them,” said City Manager Scott Neal. “Now, voters have another opportunity to decide if they want to complete the investment plan at Braemar Arena.” The Braemar Arena expansion plan would not change the current sales tax rate or extend the tax beyond its 19-year authorization. Approval would also not affect the funding previously approved for Braemar and Fred Richards. For more information on the investment plan or referendum, visit EdinaAtPlay.org. UPCOMING EVENTS Children’s Concert, Centennial Lakes Park 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Concert in the Park, Centennial Lakes Park 7 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays Farmers Market, Centennial Lakes Park 3-7 p.m. Thursdays Da Beauty League, Braemar Arena 5-8:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays through Aug. 23 Tuesday, Aug. 1 Night to Unite Wednesday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Aug. 5, 10 a.m. First Saturday Art Lab, Edina Art Center Thursday, Aug. 10, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Sunday, Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m. Lighthouse Night and Torchlight Concert, Centennial Lakes Park Tuesday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Wednesday, Aug. 16, 5 p.m. Art Together, Fred Richards Park Friday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Movie Night in the Amphitheater, “Strange World,” Centennial Lakes Park Saturday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m. Back to School Clothing Swap, Edina Senior Center Wednesday, Aug. 23, 5:30 p.m. Da Beauty League championship game, Braemar Arena Thursday, Aug. 24, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Aug. 24, 4 p.m. Edina Fire Department Open House, Fire Station 1 For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov. Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission meetings live: • Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) • Facebook.com/EdinaMN • “Watch a Meeting” web page at EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings Correction There was an error in the article “St. Peter’s Unique Steeple is an Edina Staple” in the July 2023 issue of Edition: Edina. St. Peter’s Edina is not the only church in Minnesota designed by Ralph Rapson. The City of Edina regrets the error.